News

From today, 5 August 2026, until 12 August, visitors to the Damme Shopping Centre (1A Kurzemes prospekts, Riga) are invited to explore the educational exhibition “Cigarette Butts Are No Small Matter” during the shopping centre’s opening hours. In just a few minutes, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to learn key facts about the environmental impact of cigarette butts and ways to reduce this form of pollution.

The exhibition “Cigarette Butts Are No Small Matter” was developed by Zaļā josta Ltd within the LIFE integrated project “Waste to Resources Latvia”. Research conducted by the company indicates that public environmental awareness and habits regarding the disposal of cigarette butts are gradually improving. However, some smokers still mistakenly believe that a cigarette butt discarded on the ground causes no significant harm to the environment.

To raise awareness of this issue, the exhibition has been designed so that anyone can combine a visit with their everyday shopping or leisure activities and, within just a few minutes, gain scientifically grounded, accessible and practical information about the environmental impact of cigarette butts and ways to reduce it.

Visitors to the exhibition will learn that cigarette filters are not made of paper. They consist primarily of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic. Once released into the environment, the filters do not decompose quickly. Instead, they gradually break down into increasingly smaller plastic particles, contributing to microplastic pollution.

The exhibition also presents several other striking facts. For example, approximately 4.5 trillion cigarette butts enter the environment worldwide every year, making them one of the most widespread forms of litter. During smoking, nicotine, heavy metals and other harmful substances accumulate in the filter. Once the cigarette butt is discarded outdoors, these substances may leach into soil and water, posing risks to ecosystems.

Alongside explaining the problem, the exhibition also offers practical solutions. Properly disposing of cigarette butts in ashtrays or designated containers, as well as using a pocket ashtray, are simple habits that can significantly reduce the number of cigarette butts entering the environment.

Everyone is invited to visit the Damme Shopping Centre at 1A Kurzemes prospekts in Riga from 5 to 12 August, combine their shopping with a visit to the exhibition and discover that the journey towards more environmentally responsible habits can begin with just a few minutes and one new insight.